UAE 5-Year Multiple Entry Tourist Visa: Complete 2026 Guide

The UAE 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa is a self-sponsored visa valid for five years from the date of issue. It requires no local sponsor, allows unlimited entries, and permits stays of up to 90 days per visit, extendable once. Total fees start at AED 3,713.65 through the GDRFA portal.

If you visit the UAE more than once a year, applying for a fresh tourist visa every single time gets old fast. The paperwork, the waiting, the fees, it adds up. The UAE's 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa was built specifically to fix that problem.

First approved in 2021 by the UAE cabinet during a meeting chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the visa was designed to position the UAE as a top destination for frequent travelers. The results have been clear. Demand for this permit has grown steadily, and it remains one of the most practical long-term visas the UAE offers.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know, from what the visa actually covers, to eligibility, fees, how to apply, and what happens if you overstay.

What Is the UAE 5-Year Multiple Entry Tourist Visa?

The 5-year multiple-entry UAE tourist visa is a self-sponsored visitor permit valid for 5 years from the date of issue. You do not need a local sponsor or host inside the UAE to apply. Once approved, you can enter and exit the UAE as many times as you want throughout the five years.

Each visit allows you to stay for up to 90 days. You can extend that stay once, for another 90 days, but your total time inside the UAE must not exceed 180 days in any given year. That year is calculated from the date of your first entry, not from January 1 or from the visa issuance date.

Compared to a standard UAE tourist visa, which typically covers 30 to 60 days and may require a sponsor, the 5-year visa gives you far more room. You get longer stays, no need to reapply before every trip, and the flexibility to plan travel on short notice.

The visa is open to all nationalities.

Who Is This Visa Designed For?

According to the UAE General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), the 5-year multiple-entry visa targets tourists, frequent travelers, family visitors, and business travelers who visit the UAE regularly. If you travel to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or anywhere in the UAE more than twice a year, this visa makes financial and practical sense.

Eligibility: What You Need Before Applying

The visa has no nationality restrictions, but you must meet a specific set of financial and document requirements. There are no exceptions.

Here is what you need:

• A passport valid for at least six months from the intended date of entry into the UAE

• A recent passport-size photograph with a white background, front-facing

• Valid health insurance that covers the UAE for the duration of your stay

• A confirmed return or onward travel ticket showing your exit from the UAE

• Bank statements for the last six months from your bank

• A minimum bank balance of USD 4,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) maintained during those six months

A few additional notes worth knowing:

• Applicants from Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan must also provide a national ID card (such as an Iraqi Population Card, Iranian Censenamah, Pakistani ID card, or Afghan ID card).

• For children under 18, a family visa application must be submitted separately.

The financial requirement is the one most applicants overlook. Your bank statement must show that USD 4,000 was consistently present in your account over the past six months, not just at the time of application.

Important: Applicants of certain nationalities may be required to undergo an additional verification process. If applicable, this verification will involve an additional charge.

How to Apply for the UAE 5-Year Multiple Entry Tourist Visa

The application process is straightforward. According to the GDRFA, you can apply through multiple channels, and processing typically takes 4–5 working days.

Option 1: Apply Online (GDRFA Website or Smart App)

1. Log in using UAE Pass or your registered username

2. Search for the 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa service

3. Fill in your application details

4. Upload all required documents in the specified formats

5. Pay the visa fee using a debit or credit card

6. Receive your visa electronically once approved

You can also apply through the ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) website if you prefer that portal.

Option 2: Apply In-Person

Visit any of the following:

• Customer Happiness Centres

• Amer Service Centres

• GDRFA centres

• Typing centres

At these locations, you take a queue number, submit your documents to a customer service representative, and pay the fee. The in-person option is useful if you have questions or need help completing the application.

How Much Does the UAE 5-Year Tourist Visa Cost?

The fee varies slightly depending on where you apply.

Applying through the GDRFA website: AED 3,713.65

Applying through the ICP website: AED 3,775

The AED 3,000 guarantee amount (or AED 3,025 via ICP) is refundable in certain cases, which makes the effective cost lower than it first appears.

Note: The fees listed above are the official government charges. Service charges or professional fees, if applicable, will be charged separately.

Benefits of the 5-Year Multiple Entry UAE Tourist Visa

Cost savings over time

A standard UAE tourist visa costs money every time you apply. If you visit the UAE three or four times a year, those fees stack up quickly. The 5-year visa covers all your trips for five years under a single application cost.

No repeated paperwork

Gathering documents for each visa application is time-consuming. With this visa, you do it once and you're done for five years.

Longer stays per visit

Standard tourist visas cover 30 to 60 days. This visa gives you 90 days per visit, extendable to 180. That's more time to work remotely, visit family, or explore the country properly.

No sponsor needed

Many UAE visas require a local sponsor or host. This one doesn't. You apply independently, which gives you full control over the process.

Spontaneous travel

Because you already have a valid visa, you can book a flight and travel to the UAE without waiting for visa approval.

Rules You Must Follow After Your Visa Is Issued

This is the part many applicants skip over, and it's where problems happen.

According to the GDRFA and Khaleej Times, here are the rules that apply once your visa is issued:

1. You must enter the UAE within 60 days of the visa issuance date. If you don't, the visa becomes invalid.

2. Your stay cannot exceed 90 days per visit. Extensions are allowed but must be requested in time.

3. Your total stay cannot exceed 180 days per year. The year is counted from your first entry date, not from the calendar year.

4. Unused days do not carry over. If you only use 60 of your 90 days in one visit, those 30 remaining days disappear. They don't add to the next year's allowance.

5. Overstaying makes the visa invalid. You will lose the financial security deposit, and fines will be collected at the departure port.

To check how many days you have used, you or your representative can request a travel movement report from the GDRFA.

What Happens If Your Application Is Rejected?

Your application will be automatically rejected if:

• You do not complete the required data within 30 days of the return date

• The application is returned three times due to incomplete information or missing documents

The rejection reason is usually provided, but the authority reserves the right not to disclose it in all cases.

Refund policy: If your application is rejected, you get a refund of the issuance fees, health insurance fees, and paid financial deposits. Refunds are processed to the credit card used for payment within 180 days of the original submission date. After 180 days, the refund is issued by cheque or bank transfer to UAE-based banks only.

Conclusion

The 5-year multiple-entry UAE tourist visa removes one of the most repetitive parts of frequent travel to the UAE. One application, one fee, and you're covered for five years of unlimited trips.

If you visit the UAE regularly for business, family, or leisure, the math is simple. The upfront cost is higher than a single tourist visa, but the convenience and long-term savings are worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions